Arriving to Yida

​The elapsed time between my departure from London to touchdown at the air strip (read: long dirt open space) in Yida in South Sudan, which sits on the border of Sudan, was approximately 20 hours. This was not, however, 20 hours of continuous travel. Even if I tried to get there in one fell swoop there are many hurdles and obstacles that stand in the way. The journey is Complicated, with a capital “C” for emphasis. While Yida is accessible, the preparation and bureaucratic barriers made it feel as if I was trying to reach the moon. Between visa applications for South Sudan, required travel jabs such as yellow fever, travel permits granting permission to leave the capital Juba, letters of support from high ranking officials, in-country humanitarian organisation support in order to be granted travel by flight (with an extortionate price tag that comes with it), to simple logistical practicalities that must factor in the dangers of travelling to a region with such politically instability, the commitment was intense. Despite the preparation, it was worth every ounce of effort – and more.

30th November 2018: First view of Yida Refugee Camp on our descent approaching the air strip

Meeting the Green Kordofan team in Yida

The welcome couldn’t have been more heartfelt, more sincere, more hands on. You could feel the excitement in the air as we approached the Green Kordofan compound: ours and theirs. Unused to many ‘outsiders’ we were greeted by neighbours, passers-by, children beaming warm smiles and friendly expressions of welcome to us “Khawaja” (Khawaja is Arabic for white people used frequently as a greeting by children). Outside the compound, written in English was a posthumous tribute to a special UK donor, “In memorial of Mark Warham”. We brought with us custom made trophies for tournaments inscribed with ‘The Mark Warham Everest Award’. We also brought brand new footballs and laminated copies of Mark Warham’s inspirational story of resilience in English and Arabic to inspire the young people to discover their own resilience and strength.​

Sonja Miley, (bottom right) Trustee visit to Green Kordofan in Yida

Challenges and needs

This is an environment where international humanitarian efforts are scarce, and so is food. Access to education is complicated. There are only a handful of schools for the entire population of 50,000 (current 2018 estimates in Yida). Water collection is a daily chore culturally attended to by women and girls. Borehole water points are scattered around the sprawling landscape of Yida. Most walk miles and miles to reach the boreholes only to carry their heavy loads back home for daily consumption and use. Job opportunities and paid work is hard to come by which makes life in Yida even more challenging.The dedicated Green Kordofan staff who lead sports programmes for boys and girls are deserving of so much more than can be provided to them. They too are refugees living in Yida and are subjected to the complexities of life there. Their passion and commitment to deliver top quality programming for youth with limited resources sustains them, although it is harder and harder for them to maintain with little remuneration. Word has spread throughout Yida about Green Kordofan which makes the project victim to its’ own success. It’s a safe harbour; a place where “kids can be kids”. Through sport, the children are able to build life skills actively promoting values such as teamwork, fairplay, sport(wo)manship. They have bridged tribal divides through their interactions and even set the tone to welcome mixed gender interaction. Green Kordofan is a space that welcomes boys and girls – unique in an environment where the familiar demands on young girls can set them apart from activities outside the family.Supplies are basic and in short supply. Good quality footballs, volleyballs, volleyball nets, footwear, transportation such as bicycles for children’s travel to and from the GK compound, leggings and under garments for girls to preserve their modesty while playing sport, pens, paper, flip charts, training for staff, water for relief while playing under the hot sun, increased payment to staff, including the logistics manager Alhadi Hassan in Juba who coordinates logistics for every single shipment of donated kit. If I thought my travel logistics was complicated, there is no comparison to what Alhadi is tasked to coordinate on a regular basis!

Green Kordofan football tournament organised with teams in full (donated) kit. A few words from Trustee Sonja Miley and Senior Programme Coordinator David ‘Abdigan’ before kick-off

Little did we know how much our gifts would mean. The best gift of all, we were told, was ourphysical presence and the visit itself. It wasn’t until later upon reflection that I understood this fully. The people of the Nuba Mountains have faced years of war and double apartheid some say, for being both black African and largely Christian under decades of Islamist rule by the government of Sudan. The Khartoum government has sought to destroy the Nuba culture and their way of life. In fact, the intentional acts perpetrated by the government have threatened their very existence through systematic bombing and crimes against humanity. Our presence was welcome for many reasons. Importantly they want the world to know their story, their history, their culture. They want to be remembered. What’s more, they want to be seen.Inside the compound, waiting patiently for our arrival were the Team Leaders – boys and girls - for each of the 38 teams officially registered with Green Kordofan. We were greeted by Senior Programme Coordinator David ‘Abdigan’ and staff members Uncle Yousif, Isaac, Zaki and Noura. We spent the next 2 hours getting to know each other. There were introductions all round, stories shared about life in Yida Refugee Camp, some difficult sharing about living through war in the Nuba Mountains and how much Green Kordofan and the staff mean to the youth. One young man told us “I had never met anyone from outside my tribe until I joined Green Kordofan. Now I have friends from many different tribes.” Another Team Leader told us one day he hopes to form the first ever Olympic football team from the Nuba Mountains!

Getting to know youth Team Leaders and introductions at the Green Kordofan compound, Yida, South Sudan

Used donated footballs that have been well loved by the children of Green Kordofan!

Successes against the odds

Despite the challenges the successes are huge! We give thanks and much gratitude to the tireless efforts of UK-based Green Kordofan Director and Founder, Ms Raga Gibreel. Also deserving of praise is the staff in Yida led by Senior Programme Coordinator Abdigan and Alhadi the Logistics Manager in Juba. The team is supported by a six strong board of dedicated trustees, also UK-based and a wonderful group of Green Kordofan supporters, volunteers, donors, friends and family. As the African proverb states it really does “take a village to raise a child”.Donated football kit and other supplies make the world of difference to the staff and youth in Yida. To this fact I can attest first hand. It’s often said that pictures are worth a thousand words so here are some images of Green Kordofan in action during my visit which highlight the successes of the project.